Sounds of the season.

No, really--how did we get to the third-to-last day of 2010?  It hasn't even been a week since Christmas and it already seems like a lifetime ago.  And silly me, I never even posted those all-important pictures and videos from the holiday school concerts.  We lucked out this year and got away with only two nights of concerts.  A lot of times they split up the choir and band or orchestra so we end up spending every other night at the performing arts center.  A big thank you to those school officials who set up the schedule this year!

First we have Brooke in her first performance on the big stage.

She is doing a great job on the cello, as seen here:

And now she finally has a platform for her love of singing:

Then we have the much more reserved 7th graders. Leah was so reserved that every time I tried to take her picture she was hiding behind a music stand or someone's head. So here is Emma on her flute:

It is fun to see how the band gets better and better each year. I think the kids did a terrific job.

Leah took a more prominent role in one of the choir numbers, albeit very reluctantly. I think I saw an eye roll and a tongue sticking out in the beginning of the song. The thing I can't figure out is why the choir teacher (whom the children are convinced has a bumpit) seems to be completely unaware of how she is standing in front of Leah and doesn't move her more towards the middle.  But isn't Leah great on those bongos???

There's nothing like a good concert to really get you in the holiday spirit, and these two sure did the trick. Nicely done, girls!

Party on.

Andrew also got to have a friend party this year.  The problem with a boy birthday party in winter, however, is the logistics.  What would I do with 10 nine-year old boys?  In the house?  For two hours?

The answer we came up with is our old friend, CiCi's pizza.  Cheap, lots of space, as much food as you can eat, a game room, and I don't have to clean up the mess.

 However, there is one problem that no party, no venue can ever solve...

 ...how to get the boys to stand still for a picture.

Guess how long it took to get this picture???

Despite the fact that the boys were too stuffed with pizza, pasta, and cinnamon rolls to eat the birthday "cookie" and that they all thought Glenn and I were their personal quarter repository, everyone had plenty of fun.  What a good group of kids.

P.S. Andrew also earned his Wolf badge in Cub Scouts on Friday.  Just call me Wolfmother. (Nate, that's for you!)

The morning after.

Monday morning.

6:00 am.

Watching a three + hour football game in one-third of the time.  (Thank you, DVR!)

Before school.

The boys want to keep the Sabbath day holy, but they also don't want to hear the score from their friends/co-workers.

And so this is their compromise.

I believe the Browns win may have been due to to their great show of faith.

Or it could have just been a fluke.

But I am proud of my boys for trying hard to do what's right.

Do you think it will bring us a championship too?

Party animal.

Andrew is now

years old.

For his Sabbath day family party he chose a mexican fiesta (Dad{or Grandpa Brooks}-style burritos, chicken tortilla soup, and extreme nachos), oreo cheesecake squares, and to not watch the Browns game.

Our little crazy man is growing up.

"Of Things That Matter Most"

In the October General Conference, we were counseled to "slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on essentials."  I am taking this counsel to heart this holiday season.

Last year when we put up the tree, I was in a bad mood.  But this year, I decided to be in a good mood.  A desicion to not worry about the mess, the arguing, the need for everything to look perfect.  A decision to savor the decorating, clutter, music, lights, and kids.  A decision to focus on what matters most.

What doesn't matter most this holiday season?

The fact that the strings of lights on the tree don't all match.

The fact that we don't have enough time this year to go cut a real tree.

The fact that our fake tree loses as many needles as a real one.

The fact that I still don't have all the decorations up and everything is a mess.

The fact that little creatures got into the ornament box and ate all the tissue I wrapped my brass ornaments in.  (And that I seriously think they ran off with my little angel's bell.)

The fact that I look really tired in this picture, that I am wearing an XL T-shirt of Glenn's, and that half of us are in our PJ's already, and that it took a long time to get the kids settled enough to get one at least this decent (how old are these guys?).

Psst...notice anything different about Brooke?  Maybe that she has bangs now?  She cut them herself.  Yesterday morning.  Without asking.  And I didn't notice until today.  We could explore this in its own blog post, but I'm not sure I want to analyze what this says about me as a mother.  Or about Miss Independent herself.

What does matter most?

The fact that I love the majority of my Christmas decorations.

The fact that we all laugh to Elf as it's playing in the background.

The fact that Glenn is a kind and loving husband who is willing to tackle the lights and make adjustments as I see fit.

The fact that Leah was so excited to put the angel on the tree all by herself.

The fact that my kids love to do more together than just annoy each other. 

The fact that putting out all my nativity sets helps me think to that wonderful night when the Savior of the world was born.

I'm not saying I wasn't very ready to be done for the evening and for the kids to scoot off to bed (if you catch my drift), but last night was a great start to my holiday season.  This year I really am going to focus on what matter most.  I want to "make the changes necessary to refocus [my] life on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship--the path that always leads toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace."  Treasuring my family.  Serving others.  And celebrating the birth and life of the Son of God.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

The week in review.

Yes, it was a good week.

Wonderful trip to the temple, delicious buffet in German Village (which we saw later from Andrew on the drive home), a never-ending bookstore, nice drive around Ohio State campus.  Fun day with the fam.

No amount of touch-ups or filtering could counteract that late afternoon sun.  Shoot.

Got through three (or was it four?) of the Harry Potter movies.  Emma read like a fiend but didn't quite get all 7 books read.  I took Leah and Tyler to HP 7.1 (longest movie since Gone with the Wind), Emma gets to go with Daddy when she finishes.

Leisurely (rainy) Thanksgiving morning in PJ's watching the parade and scouring ads.  Ate hardly anything all day so as to be properly ready to devour all the delicious food.  Stood in the rain for about an hour with Glenn waiting to get in to Toys R Us while kids + Tyler and Becca watched Toy Story 3 and camped out in the living room.  Let's just call it date night.

Up at 3:30 for shopping.  Scored at Kohl's.  Walmart was a bust.  I can't compete with people who have been shopping since midnight.  Came home and found the same deals offered (but were sold out in stores) on Amazon.  Could Black Friday shopping be a thing of the past???

Glenn and Brooke got to spend Friday evening together at a Hoe-Down at church.  It was Daddy-Daughter night for the 8-11 year old girls.  Sources can neither confirm nor deny rumors that certain dads went a little nuts during the line dance competition.

Saturday we saw "Willy Wonka" at a community theater.  Not sure what I was expecting, but I was very pleasantly surprised.  It was a near-professional production, and a musical to boot.  Willy Wonka and Charlie were excellent.  It was long (think HP 7.1) but thoroughly entertaining and much cheaper.  A fun way to end the week.

Today I found myself back on the treadmill at 6 am, eating a salad for lunch, and attempting to tame the explosion of Christmas decor in the living room.  I love the holidays.

Small and simple things.

I am really looking forward to this week.

I get very happy when I think of what's in store.

First, there will be absolutely no exercise.  I work out five days a week, early in the morning.  I have missed a day here and there, and I took a break when we went to California, but I have been very consistent.  So this week, I am giving myself permission to give the workout attire, alarm clock, treadmill, sweat glands, and painful feet a huge rest.  What joy fills my heart.

Also on the agenda:

• Temple / Schmidt's Sausage Haus in Columbus's German Village
• Harry Potter movie marathon with any children who have read all 7 books (keep at it, Emma!)
• Zoo (free on Thursday!)
• Thanksgiving dinner
• Black Friday shopping
• New Harry Potter movie with Leah and Tyler (and Emma???)
• Pizza and movie night
• "Willy Wonka" play featuring Brooke's and Andrew's friends

I know it's not much...a token, really--a trifle.  But all these little things add up to a whole lotta stuff to look forward to.  This week, it's all I need.

Deja vu all over again.

November 18, 2002

November 12, 2010

First, he sings...

...then he gets sick.

After a lovely Veteran's Day celebration, Andrew found himself with a lovely case of strep. One day missing church and cousins, two days home from school, and three doses of antibiotics later, he was back to his usual crazy self.

The last time we went to a Cavs game...

...the Cavs won.

But someone slammed into our brand new car.

This time, the Cavs lost.

But the car was untouched. (We did drive Glenn's car down just to be safe.)

Andrew's school had tickets to give away to families who were interested. Of course, we were one of those families. A bonus ticket meant I got to tag along with the boys. We consulted our friends who have been very successful in getting their kids to be picked to be on the court as the players come out about how we could get Andrew down there. We were advised to get there early, but 45 minutes was not enough. Good thing there was stuff to do to fill the time...

...like hair painting...

...and poster making...

...and seeing how close we're getting.

We had great seats...no zoom on this picture!

And despite the loss, both the one over the summer and the one that night, the Cavs fans are still as supportive and excited as ever. It's always fun to be at a game.

Hallo-Weekend

The Halloween festivities started Friday night with the annual Parkside Halloween party. We sent off a princess and a tomato.
The next day was Andrew's final flag football game of the season, and possibly his last football game ever. This wasn't the greatest season for him, with the broken finger debacle and strange lack of time on the field. It was kind of discouraging, but Andrew was a trooper and is ready to move on to basketball. Next fall he's heading back onto the soccer field.

Saturday night our ward had an all-inclusive party--chili cook-off and trunk-or-treat. A crayon, the floor of a movie theater, and some static cling joined the tomato.There was a cake walk...

See the hobo there on the right? FINALLY! some one to follow in my childhood costume tradition!

...and the ever popular bite-a-donut-off a string game.

And of course all candy must be dumped on the living room floor for sorting while watching Halloween specials on TV.Sunday was the BIG DAY. But it was Sunday. So we decided against trick-or-treating. In order to still celebrate, we had a very fitting dinner with family and friends. On the menu--

• Dinner in a pumpkin
• Monster salad
• Scary smiles (apple wedges with blanched almonds for teeth)
• "Rest in Peas"
• Bone breadsticks
• Spider, ghost, and skull bread
  

Pretty scary, eh? But quite yummy!

Some of us thought there might be more Halloween fun to be had, but alas, it ended up being just another school night. Albeit one where we hid upstairs in the dark to watch "The Next Iron Chef" to hide from any trick-or-treaters that may be wandering by. (Don't worry, we never get anyone anyways.)

For me, it was nice to enjoy the beautiful weather, keep the costumes low-key, get a couple pieces of discarded candy from the kids, and spend time with family and friends.

Can Halloween be on a Sunday every year???

One game fits all.

Part of the brou-ha-ha that comes with Andrew's football league is free admission to the high school football games and a chance to run out on the field at one of them. Well, "Junior All-Star Night" just happened to be the game against Tyler's school. And with Tyler marching in the band, it was a two-for-one package deal.

It was very cool to see Tyler out there...

We all sat on Westlake's side, but Andrew, ever faithful to his big cousin, cheered (quite loudly) for the opposing team.

It was a pretty chilly night, and some people were ready to leave after the half-time show. But if we had done that, we would have missed catching a t-shirt and football that the cheerleaders tossed into the stands, and we would have missed seeing Westlake pull a win in the last seconds. Sorry, Tyler, I would have been totally fine with you adding one to your win column, but it sure was fun cheering when the kicker made that field goal.

Family. Football. Friday night. Fall. Fabulous.

Big kids don't cry?

Brooke and Andrew have pulled out the baby books recently.  I saw Andrew's laying there and started thumbing through it.  One of the "cute sayings" from when Andrew was all of two years old was, "Mommy, you made my feelings cry."

Every single day for the past 12 and a half years someone's feelings have been crying.  It's taken the form of a whine, a tantrum, or an owie.  It's been due to hunger, fatigue, pain, frustration, or (most often) unknown reasons.

It may be just one child having a bad day, or there may have been all four sobbing at the same time.  There might be an easy fix, or I might have started crying my self because I haven't known how to stop it.

Whatever the reasons or causes, forms or solutions, crying has been a huge part of my life for a really long time.  And I have often thought to myself that someday--someday!--I will have an entire 24 hours without one single child crying.  I have looked forward to marking this milestone as I have the day all four children could buckle themselves into the car on their own and the day all three girls could put their Sunday tights on without help.  It would be as monumental as no longer hearing "Mom!  I need help wiping!" or not being involved in the nightly showering process (except for the occasional washing of Brooke's hair). 

And I think we made it.

I realized today that for the past two days, there was not one tear shed.  And thankfully, those days coincided with Glenn's business trip to Minneapolis.  The kids couldn't have picked a better time.

As I look back, there are a lot of things I miss about my babies.  I miss the little white-haired boy who snuggled on my lap and was obsessed with fire trucks.  I miss the three ringlet-crowned girls who played with dolls and princesses and danced and sang to the Wiggles.  But even though there are new unsavory issues our big-kid family is now dealing with (hello, fighting!), I am very happy that certain struggles are far behind us.

Well, not too far.  Our two-day record was shot this evening.  But it was great while it lasted, and now that I know it's possible, I am looking forward to more tear-free days ahead.  It will make my feelings smile.

High note.

So the cross country season is over.  The last race was Saturday.  A nice, sunny day, but the course was a little muddy.  The coaches were speculating that it was "slow," that there wouldn't be too many personal records set.

Enter Westlake.  Enter Emma.  Enter Leah.

"Slow" course, my foot.  You wanna talk personal bests?  Try on a 14:42 for Emma.  (That would be 55th out of 126 girls.)  How about a little 16:03 for Leah?  (85th) Yeah, not only did they each set a personal best, they beat it by 45 and 30 seconds!  Doesn't sound slow to me!

And our team won the SWC championships!

The only drawback was that for some reason there was no time clock at the finish line, so we didn't know the girls' times.  Based on some of the runners they beat, we knew they were doing pretty good, and when Emma finished, Glenn said, "I think she's under 15:00."  Nah, I said, that's too much to ask.  After everyone finished we were standing by the coach and I noticed she had a paper with everyone's times scribbled on it (the Westlake girls were coming in so fast and one right after another that she was having a hard time keeping up!).  I saw "Emma" and 14:42 and exclaimed--"Is that MY Emma???"  I had a hard time telling the girls how well they had done (they still had no idea at this point) because my {ahem} "allergies" started acting up right then.


They had the awards ceremony right after and it was so much fun to see the team together and to cheer for the champs.  The team went to CiCi's to celebrate.  I went to pick the girls up early and got to talk to the coach a little.  She had nothing but good things to say about the girls and was so impressed with their improvement.  She is excited they are doing track in the spring.  It was just such a good experience all around and I am loving seeing all the growth in my children.

Now, I am looking forward to a little less-hectic schedule (at least until track season), the bus bringing my children to me rather than me going out to retrieve them, and getting beat by a couple of twelve year-olds in some off-season 5K's.

Congratulations on a fantastic rookie season, Emma and Leah!

Don't blink.

Leah shaved 30 seconds off her time!  

Conference championships are tomorrow--

both girls have a goal to get a personal best!

Back in the saddle again.

After sitting out for two weeks with his broken finger, Andrew was back on the football field. And look at the size of the guy they put him up against!

Andrew had a great game and his finger didn't bother him a bit.  In fact, he isn't even wearing the splint anymore.  It's going to take more than a little crack in a bone to keep this kid down!

Life, interrupted.

My month--by five FULL days at school as book fair co-coordinator.  No wonder Andrew is crazy town after school.

My twenty minutes on the couch before having to rush off again to pick up kids--by the Wii, the piano, and a phone call.

My plans for a date with my husband--by a last-minute cross country dinner that takes my babysitters away.

My blog post--by

...to a rainbow of runners.

So, despite all our troubles on Friday (and one slight one the next morning in which the inability to find the cell phone anywhere in the car after we'd already checked out of the hotel sent us back in to double-check the room where we did not find the phone but a shirt Glenn had left behind only to discover that the phone was indeed in a suitcase that {supposedly} had already been searched through), Saturday dawned bright and clear.  We headed to the high school for the big meet.   Hundreds of kids everywhere, stretching, doing warm-ups, all jazzed for the race.  The course was a killer.  Lots of hills, with one huge one right at the end, and  a random short and steep downhill right after that.  Despite the challenging course, the girls plugged along and had a great race.  Emma finished in the top 60 and got a ribbon! It was so much fun cheering our girls on to a second place overall victory.

~Emma~

~Leah~

***Small disclaimer: It is REALLY hard to take pictures at a cross country meet. It is a sea of runners, half of which I swear share our school colors, and it is nearly impossible to pick out Emma or Leah until it's too late. I'm working on it, and for now will keep myself entertained with the fun effects found at Photoworks.

From the storm cloud of misfortunes...

The idea:

Head down to the temple with Glenn at 3:00.  Attend an endowment session at 6:00.  Have a delicious dinner at PF Changs.  Stay in a hotel near Lodi, just five minutes down the road from where the cross country meet was to take place the next morning.  Get home in time to get to Andrew's football game.

The reality:

Get a phone call from the school around 12:40 letting you know that Andrew has hurt his finger during recess and can't bend it.  Go to the school and realize he will need an x-ray.  Run home to change out of scummy clothes and shove some food in mouth.  Arrive at ER around 1:00, knowing full well there is no way you're getting out of there by 3.  Hope that your doctor friend is on duty, maybe he can help expedite things (after all, he would understand about getting to the temple).  Look out the window to see your doctor friend leaving the hospital.  Wait.  Get an x-ray.  Wait.  Play silly games and sing "Everything Comes Down to Poo" with Andrew. 

Wait.  Call Grandma to let her know what is going on, and ask if she can come relieve you in the ER so that you can get ready to leave for Columbus.  Wait.  See the doctor (or should I say med student) finally come in the room.  Realize she has not yet looked at the x-ray results that have been ready for about 2 hours now.  (Can you just tell me if the darn finger is broken or not???)  Welcome Grandma to the party.  Wait. Get the diagnosis from the doctor (or should I say med student) that yes, indeed, the finger is broken.  Think things might really start happening now that we have the results, but realize that another doctor (a real one this time) has to come in and do the whole thing over again.  Tell Grandma to ask lots of questions, to not let the ER give him a $25 dose of Tylenol, and high-tail it out of there.

Finally get on the road to Columbus, 45 minutes later than planned.  Realize you need gas in the car, yet another delay.  Enjoy a nice drive, trying to not feel like you've totally abandoned your injured son, while your husband does the stressing out for a change.  Feel pretty confident that you are going to make it on time.  Two exits away from your exit, come to a complete standstill due to a huge accident on the freeway.  Miss your scheduled session, but squeeze into a sealing session.  Have an incredibly embarrassing coughing fit in which you have to leave the room.

Head to PF Changs, gift card in tow, in anticipation of a yummy meal.  Order the sweet and sour chicken, a seemingly sure thing.  Watch your husband get giddy over his favorite dish.  Start eating yours.  Realize it tastes like, well, you know.  Try not to be too disappointed (especially since this is going to be the Big Meal of the week) and inform your husband that there will be an ice cream stop at some point that night.

Drive the hour or so to the hotel and realize that there is no ice cream.  The Dairy Queen next door is closed at 10:30 on a Friday for some freakish reason.  A shake from Hardee's must suffice.  (But it doesn't, really.)  Settle down in a pretty decent bed in a non-smoking hotel room that mysteriously smells like smoke.

Realize that the best thing about this day is that it's over.

Capture the flag...

...is what Andrew is doing right here.

Yes, football season has started again.

Andrew is ready...

 

...and waiting...

 

...to defend...

...and take down...

...anyone who gets in his way.

Let's go, Vikings!

Insert photo here.

Due to other responsibilities, and the fact that their meets are located all over creation, I have not been able to go to the past two cross country meets.  And it is killing me.  Especially when both girls have lowered their times every week!  And when I hear that Emma has shaved nearly TWO MINUTES off her first time!  She started at 17:19 and is now down to 15:37.  Leah keeps improving as well, starting at 17:50 and finishing last week at 17:08. 

I hate that I hear about this over the phone! 
I hate that I have no pictures of the races! 
I hate that I haven't been able to be there to cheer them on!

SO--Glenn and I have done some fanagling and we will both be able to see their race this Saturday.

On your marks...